Deciphering Emphysema – Part II
Smoking besides being the single most leading cause of Emphysema, the other main cited cause is due to deficiency of the alpha-1 antitrypsin protein. Though, this is a small reason that leads to emphysema in comparison to smoking.
The Alpha-1 antitrypsin or AAT is an innate protein that circulates within the blood stream. Its key task is to stop the WBC or white blood cells from causing damage to the normal tissues present. The constituents of the white blood cells are destructive in nature employed to combat infections that might crop up in the body.
In a certain populace conceivably one lakh individuals in the United States are believed to have a hereditary condition which causes their bodies to have alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Deficit levels of AAT in the blood stream allow the normal white blood cells to incessantly cause harm to the lung tissue. Those individuals with AAT paucity that smoke raise their chances of damage being caused thus further worsening the situation.
Over a time period of several years, majority of those persons having extreme deficiency of AAT develop emphysema. Though it not clear as to how many individuals develop emphysema that is caused due to AAT deficit.
Emphysema noted in AAT deficit people have similar signs and symptoms as noted in emphysema that is caused due to smoking. Still, individuals that have dearth of AAT mostly develop emphysema during the younger years of their life. Even liver ailments are noted to occur in persons having emphysema caused to AAT dearth.
The other probable cause of Emphysema is being exposed to second hand smoke. Contact with cigarette smoke suspended in the environment is believed to cause harm to the lungs. Numerous studies point to the fact that those individuals that have exposure to elevated levels of second hand smoke are likely to be more prone to developing emphysema.
Even air pollution is deemed as a contributor leading to emphysema. Though, the extent of its role in leading to emphysema is quite blurred. A major population of people are exposed to the vagaries of pollution on a day-to-day basis, and emphysema would take a span of years to develop thus making this cause difficult to study.
An investigational treatment employing the use of lung gel could be very beneficial for those emphysema patients in whom lung surgery is the sole option left and want to avoid it.
Read more at: Deciphering Emphysema – Part I
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